MacBook Prohttp://www.businessinsider.com/category/macbook-pro
en-usSun, 02 Aug 2015 19:24:55 -0400Sun, 02 Aug 2015 19:24:55 -0400The latest news on MacBook Pro from Business Insiderhttp://static3.businessinsider.com/assets/images/bilogo-250x36-wide-rev.pngBusiness Insiderhttp://www.businessinsider.com
http://www.businessinsider.com/el-capitan-new-mac-features-2015-6The 6 best new features coming to Apple computershttp://www.businessinsider.com/el-capitan-new-mac-features-2015-6
Thu, 18 Jun 2015 15:51:00 -0400Will Wei
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<p class="embed-spacer"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Apple's newest operating system, </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mac-os-x-el-capitan-2015-6">OS X El Capitan</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">, is set to hit Mac computers this fall. Here's a firsthand look at the best features coming to Apple computers.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><em>Produced by <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/author/will-wei">Will Wei</a></em><br></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>Follow TI Video: </strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/techinsider" target="_blank">On Facebook</a><em><br></em></span></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/el-capitan-new-mac-features-2015-6#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-macbook-pro-release-date-price-specsApple just unveiled a faster 15-inch MacBook Pro with a sharper screen and the Force Touch trackpad (AAPL)http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-macbook-pro-release-date-price-specs
Tue, 19 May 2015 09:09:43 -0400Lisa Eadicicco
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/555b33aceab8ea2205891f68-800-/applenewmacbook.png" border="0" alt="AppleNewMacBook" width="800"></p><p>Apple announced on Tuesday that it would be<a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150519005744/en/Apple-Introduces-15-inch-MacBook-Pro-Force-Touch#.VVswmee9_I4"> updating its 15-inch MacBook Pro</a> with a Retina display, faster graphics and flash storage, and Apple's new Force Touch trackpad — which simulates the sensation of clicking without the trackpad actually moving.</p>
<p>Apple also claims this updated MacBook will come with longer battery life. &nbsp;You can buy it starting today $1,999 for the basic configuration, which gets you 256GB of flash storage, 16GB of memory, and a 2.2GHz Intel Core i7 processor.</p>
<p>The more expensive $2,499 configuration gets you more storage (512GB versus 256GB) and a faster processor clocked at 2.5GHz instead of 2.2GHz.</p>
<p>It's not a major change compared to the laptops Apple already offers, but it shows the company is looking to expand the new Force Touch trackpad it introduced with the 12-inch MacBook back in March into more of its products.</p>
<p><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/550ad1d76da811d25ab174ad-1200-231/screen shot 2015-03-19 at 9.40.06 am.png" border="0" alt="Apple Macbook taptic engine force touch trackpad"></p>
<p>Force Touch uses a taptic engine that triggers haptic feedback, which essentially means it feels like you're clicking even though the trackpad doesn't actually click and physically stays in place. There are a bunch of new gestures and features within Apple's Mac operating system that rely on this Force Touch trackpad, and Apple is letting third-party developers create new features too.</p>
<p>At the same time, Apple is also introducing a new 27-inch iMac with a Retina 5K display that starts at $1,999 and is also available starting Tuesday.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-speed-up-your-mac-2014-8" >12 ways to make your Mac run faster</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-macbook-pro-release-date-price-specs#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/new-macbook-keyboard-video-2015-4">This is our favorite part of the new MacBook</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/new-macbook-keyboard-video-2015-4This is our favorite part of the new MacBookhttp://www.businessinsider.com/new-macbook-keyboard-video-2015-4
Fri, 24 Apr 2015 08:08:00 -0400Will Wei
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<p class="embed-spacer"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The newest MacBook from Apple </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/new-macbook-review-2015-4">isn't for everyone</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">, but it sure is a </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/new-apple-gold-macbook-unboxing-2015-4">ridiculously good looking laptop</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">. Take a look at what we think is the most beautiful part of the new MacBook.</span></p>
<p><em>Produced by <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/author/will-wei">Will Wei</a>. Additional camera by <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/author/joe-avella">Joe Avella</a>.</em></p>
<p><strong>Follow TI Video: </strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/techinsider" target="_blank">On Facebook</a></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/new-macbook-keyboard-video-2015-4#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/staingate-apple-macbook-pro-2015-3Some MacBook Pro owners are complaining about a strange issue that's leaving their laptop screens stained (AAPL)http://www.businessinsider.com/staingate-apple-macbook-pro-2015-3
Thu, 19 Mar 2015 11:34:44 -0400Lisa Eadicicco
<p><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/550aea7e69bedd1e3b0069ef-1000-750/macbookstain.jpg" border="0" alt="MacBookStain"></p><p>Some Retina MacBook Pro owners are complaining that the anti-reflective coating on the screens of their laptop is wearing off, leaving the screen appearing stained.</p>
<p>The blog&nbsp;<a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2015/03/16/retina-macbook-pro-stained-coating/">MacRumors compiled a lengthy report</a> detailing the complaints on Thursday. The issue is said to be affecting MacBook Pro models sold between June 2012 and present. We've reached out to Apple for comment and more information about the issue, and will update this story accordingly when we hear back.</p>
<p>There are a few reasons the coating on certain MacBook Pro models seems to be wearing off, according to complains in the Apple Support Communities and MacRumor's report. The problem seems to occur after users have cleaned the screen with third-party solutions or water, or after the keys have pressed against the screen when the laptop was closed.</p>
<p>Aggravated Apple customers have created <a href="http://www.staingate.org/">a website called "Staingate"</a> to promote awareness about the issue. The website claims it has compiled a database of 580 users affected by the issue, and the problem can occur up to seven months following a purchase. Staingate.org also posted a gallery featuring tons of photos that show what happened to the MacBook screens of users impacted by the reported issue.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/550aeb006da811905ab174b4-1000-751/macbookstain2.png" border="0" alt="MacBookStain2"></p>
<p>There's also <a href="https://www.change.org/p/apple-replace-or-fix-all-macbook-pro-retinas-with-screen-stain-damage-and-peeling-rubber-feet?recruiter=258484551&amp;utm_source=share_petition&amp;utm_medium=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=share_twitter_responsive">a petition on Change.org</a> urging Apple to replace or fix all affected MacBooks free of charge. The petition currently has 335 supporters.</p>
<p>Some users have complained about the "Staingate" problem on Twitter too:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/thetruevivian">@thetruevivian</a> i literally cleaned so hard the anti-glare coat off my screen came off FML</p>
— catherine (@_catherinezheng) <a href="https://twitter.com/_catherinezheng/status/561816637024657408">February 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<p>just found out the horrible Macbook pro retina stain screen flaw, is more widespread to millions of units than just my own.</p>
— Obleo A. Beck (@oab) <a href="https://twitter.com/oab/status/578543368365461504">March 19, 2015</a></blockquote>
<p>Users have reportedly received mixed responses from Apple, according to MacRumors. Some owners that are covered under a limited warranty or Apple Care were able to get their computers fixed for free, while others &nbsp;have been told that such damage isn't covered.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It's unclear exactly how large the problem is — back in September, some iPhone 6 Plus owners <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-6-plus-bending-issue-2014-9">reported that their phones were bending </a>after being stored in their pants pocket for extended periods of time. Apple, however, said that very few users actually complained about the issue despite the hype it generated online.&nbsp;</p>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/staingate-apple-macbook-pro-2015-3#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/evantubehd-youtube-star-evan-toys-unboxing-2015-2">This 9-year-old makes $1 million a year opening toys</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/macbook-pro-refurbish-ram-solid-drive-computer-2015-2How to make your old MacBook Pro run like new againhttp://www.businessinsider.com/macbook-pro-refurbish-ram-solid-drive-computer-2015-2
Thu, 26 Feb 2015 11:53:00 -0500Matthew Stuart
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<p>If you've got a pre-Retina display MacBook Pro, it probably feels like it's running pretty slow. It's easy to give your machine a boost by swapping in a Solid-State Drive and more RAM. </p>
<p>Here are the links for what you'll need:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;field-keywords=2.5%26%2334%3B%20ssd%20macbook%20pro%20-hybrid&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3A2.5%26%2334%3B%20ssd%20macbook%20pro%20-hybrid&amp;tag=biupgrademacbook-20&amp;url=search-alias%3Daps&amp;linkId=MPU5K6RRUJNDDXMT">Solid-State Drives</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&amp;field-keywords=macbook+pro+2x8gb&amp;rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Amacbook+pro+2x8gbhttp://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;field-keywords=macbook%20pro%202x8gb&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Amacbook%20pro%202x8gb&amp;tag=biupgrademacbook-20&amp;url=search-alias%3Daps&amp;linkId=A5TGXZ3P5HWLOJZP">RAM</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;field-keywords=macbook%20pro%20tool%20kit&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Amacbook%20pro%20tool%20kit&amp;tag=biupgrademacbook-20&amp;url=search-alias%3Daps&amp;linkId=BLONCJT2226FZNI5">Toolkit</a></p>
<p><em>Produced by Matthew Stuart</em></p>
<p><strong>Follow BI Video:</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BusinessInsider.Video">On Facebook</a></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/macbook-pro-refurbish-ram-solid-drive-computer-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-2011-macbook-pro-repair-program-faulty-graphics-cards-2015-2Apple has finally admitted there's a big problem with old MacBook Pros (AAPL)http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-2011-macbook-pro-repair-program-faulty-graphics-cards-2015-2
Fri, 20 Feb 2015 09:41:00 -0500Rob Price
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/54e7479bdd0895dc508b461c-904-678/macbook-pro-2011-graphics-issue-petition.jpg" border="0" alt="macbook pro 2011 graphics issue petition"></p><p>After <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-apple-wins-dismissal-of-lawsuit-over-macbook-logic-boards-2015-1">successfully battling a class-action lawsuit last year</a>, Apple is finally acknowledging <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2015/02/19/2011-macbook-pro-repair-program-apple/">a long-running issue with MacBook Pros' graphics hardware and has begun offering free repairs, MacRumors reports</a>.</p>
<p>The lawsuit was brought against Apple in late 2014 by customers who said the MacBook Pros they purchased in 2011 had severely defective graphics cards and that Apple should be forced to pay for the repair.</p>
<p>It clearly was not an isolated problem, as <a href="https://www.change.org/p/timothy-d-cook-replace-or-fix-all-2011-macbook-pro-with-graphics-failure">a Change.org petition calling on Apple to issue replacements</a> for affected models has been signed almost 40,000 times.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-apple-wins-dismissal-of-lawsuit-over-macbook-logic-boards-2015-1">Apple successfully had the lawsuit dismissed</a>&nbsp;in January, with the judge ruling that the "plaintiffs have failed to allege that Apple's logic boards were unfit for their ordinary purposes or lacked a minimal level of quality."</p>
<p>But Apple seems to have had a change of heart. <a href="http://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/">The company announced Thursday that it would repair affected products free of charge</a>. There is no indication of how many MacBooks Pros have been affected by the issue over the past four years; Apple says only that a "small percentage ... may exhibit distorted video, no video, or unexpected system restarts."</p>
<p>The program began Friday in the US and Canada and will begin February 27 elsewhere in the world. It will run until February 27, 2016. Customers who have experienced the issue can take their devices into Apple Stores (and authorised retailers) or call up and order a postage-paid box to send it in.</p>
<p><strong>The <a href="http://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/">affected models</a> are:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2011)</li>
<li>MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011)</li>
<li>MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2012)</li>
<li>MacBook Pro (17-inch Early 2011)</li>
<li>MacBook Pro (17-inch Late 2011)</li>
<li>MacBook Pro (Retina, 15 inch, Early 2013)</li>
</ul><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-2011-macbook-pro-repair-program-faulty-graphics-cards-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ipad-air-2-parts-cost-teardown-video-2014-11">Teardown Of The iPad Air 2 Reveals How Much Apple Spends On Parts</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/product-hunt-apple-mac-fanatics-toolkit-2015-2Trick out your Mac with these 15 great items we found on Product Hunthttp://www.businessinsider.com/product-hunt-apple-mac-fanatics-toolkit-2015-2
Thu, 19 Feb 2015 20:20:51 -0500Sam Colt
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/53b199356bb3f7ae3f867669-480-/apple-fanboy-from-microsoft-ad.png" border="0" alt="Apple fanboy from Microsoft ad" width="480"></p><p>Mac owners don't just like their computers; they love them.</p>
<p>There are plenty of ways to show that love: stickers, extensions, accessories, and more.</p>
<p>We're rounded up the best of the best from <a href="http://www.producthunt.com/e/products-for-mac-lovers">Product Hunt's Mac Lovers collection</a> for your discovery and enjoyment.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Noizio is an ambient sound extension for your menu bar. It's great for drowning out distractions. You can download it for free on Noizio's website. (Link below this slide.)</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/54e65dcdecad0426157d2df5-400-300/noizio-is-an-ambient-sound-extension-for-your-menu-bar-its-great-for-drowning-out-distractions-you-can-download-it-for-free-on-noizios-website-link-below-this-slide.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><a href="http://noiz.io/">Noizio</a></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Duet Display lets you connect your iPad to your Mac and use it as a secondary display. It's $15.99 in the App Store.</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/54e65f6becad0448187d2df9-400-300/duet-display-lets-you-connect-your-ipad-to-your-mac-and-use-it-as-a-secondary-display-its-1599-in-the-app-store.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/duet-display/id935754064?mt=8">Duet Display</a></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Mailbox for Mac will help you blaze through your email. It's available for free (and in beta) on Mailbox's website.</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54e660e6eab8ea2111f89cde-400-300/mailbox-for-mac-will-help-you-blaze-through-your-email-its-available-for-free-and-in-beta-on-mailboxs-website.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><a href="http://www.mailboxapp.com/">Mailbox for Mac</a></p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/product-hunt-apple-mac-fanatics-toolkit-2015-2#draw-attention-turns-the-back-of-your-macbook-pro-or-air-into-a-whiteboard-its-perfect-for-impromptu-meetings-most-models-cost-12-on-draw-attentions-website-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/macbook-pro-replace-hard-drive-with-ssd-2015-2I made one change to my old MacBook Pro and now it's blazing fasthttp://www.businessinsider.com/macbook-pro-replace-hard-drive-with-ssd-2015-2
Mon, 09 Feb 2015 15:58:00 -0500Matt Johnston
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/54d916faecad049a26e404d0-620-465/macbook-pro-1.jpg" border="0" alt="macbook pro"></p><p>I bought my first MacBook Pro in 2011, and I've never been unhappy with that purchase.</p>
<p>But things haven't been all sunshine and daisies for me with this computer all those years in between. Particularly now that it is running OS X Yosemite, the computer has slowed down a ton.</p>
<p>I tried my best to future-proof the computer. I spent a few hundred extra dollars at first to get a better processor, and I bumped up my RAM about a year after buying it to 16GB, from a measly 4GB. I edit a lot of video and wanted this thing in tip-top shape.</p>
<p>But things have not been working out lately. That's when I read <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/four-year-old-macbook-pro-run-like-new-2015-1">an article on Business Insider</a> that suggested a few tweaks one can make to an old MacBook Pro like mine to make it shine.</p>
<p>One of the suggestions was upgrading the RAM, but I had already maxed my MacBook Pro out in that category. The other suggestion, however, has turned my personal-computing world from frustration to bliss.</p>
<p><strong>I ripped out the old hard drive and replaced it with an SSD (solid state drive).</strong></p>
<p>This absolutely changed everything. My computer is now blazing fast with a solid-state drive and 16GB of RAM. It feels brand new.</p>
<p>Solid-state drives are becoming the industry standard. They are much faster than classic hard drives and also more energy efficient.</p>
<p>And even though Apple computers are pretty locked down in general (and more so lately; this isn't an upgrade you can do on later models), this particular augmentation wasn't all that tough. It's unclear in my research whether this voids your warranty with Apple; I've seen opinions going both ways. So if you decide to do this, you might want to call Apple first and ask (if voiding the warranty matters to you).</p>
<p>Here's what I did:</p>
<p>First, I bought a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KFAGCUM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00KFAGCUM&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=bionechangemac-20&amp;linkId=WTRHKWSRNRVBM5CC">Crucial 512 GB SSD from Amazon</a>. After some research I discovered this is the best one you can buy that will fit my particular make and model.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Next, I picked up a set of small Torx wrenches that included the "T6" size. I needed that to take the mounting screws off the old hard drive and put them on the SSD.</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54d91bda6bb3f7356689ad79-582-437/macbook-ssd-switch.png" border="0" alt="MacBook SSD Switch" style="color: #000000;"></p>
<p>After that, I simply unscrewed the bottom of my MacBook Pro, took the old hard drive out, put the SSD in, and screwed the lid back on (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfiGF_pjqvM">check out a good YouTube tutorial here</a>). If you have all the tools and don't freak out when you look at the inside of a computer, you can do all this in probably 20 minutes if you wanted to.</p>
<p>As for the software piece of this, you have a few options. I decided I just wanted to install a clean version of Yosemite on my flashy new solid-state drive and eliminate the clunkiness. So I backed up all my essential files on an external hard drive before I took out the old drive.</p>
<p>To install a clean version of OS X Yosemite you have to create a bootable USB drive for it. It's not that tough and takes about 30 minutes (<a href="http://www.macworld.com/article/2367748/how-to-make-a-bootable-os-x-10-10-yosemite-install-drive.html">instructions here</a>). After you install the SSD you just hold the option key with the USB plugged in and boot right from that.</p>
<p>You also have the option of simply cloning your old drive beforehand. If you take this option, you won't have to do anything after you install the SSD, just boot up.</p>
<p>The whole thing cost me about $206 — <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KFAGCUM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00KFAGCUM&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=bionechangemac-20&amp;linkId=WTRHKWSRNRVBM5CC">$200 for the SSD</a> and $6 for the wrench set. All that for a computer that feels as if it is brand new and has specs similar now to those of current models. I can't recommend this enough.<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">&nbsp;</span></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/macbook-pro-replace-hard-drive-with-ssd-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apples-os-x-yosemite-preview-2014-10">OS X Yosemite Is Here — Here's How It's Changing Your Mac</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/end-of-the-laptop-2015-1We're About To Hit 'Peak MacBook' (AARL)http://www.businessinsider.com/end-of-the-laptop-2015-1
Mon, 12 Jan 2015 11:46:59 -0500M.G. Siegler
<p class="graf--p is-withNotes"><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54b3fa8edd0895c0548b45c2-1024-768/2263696818_ca2f0c1d8e_b.jpg" border="0" alt="MacBook"></p><p>Over two years ago, I wrote a review of the then-new 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro. The headline:&nbsp;<a href="http://techcrunch.com/2012/11/17/13-inch-macbook-pro-review/" target="_blank" class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" rel="nofollow" data-href="http://techcrunch.com/2012/11/17/13-inch-macbook-pro-review/">We’re Getting Very Close To The Perfect MacBook</a>. “Very close” is the key phrase there. As great as that machine was/is, I knew it wasn’t perfection in laptop form. Yet.</p>
<p class="graf--p"><a></a>In the intervening years, I’ve gone back-and-forth between using this 13-inch MacBook Pro and an 11-inch MacBook Air (my work machine). There are obvious and real benefits to each. In my mind, it’s been clear for a while: the absolute perfect machine would be a 12-inch MacBook with a Retina display. Basically, a combination of my two machines.</p>
<p class="graf--p is-withNotes">And, if&nbsp;<a href="http://9to5mac.com/2015/01/06/macbook-air-12-inch-redesign/" target="_blank" class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" rel="nofollow" data-href="http://9to5mac.com/2015/01/06/macbook-air-12-inch-redesign/">a scoop by Mark Gurman</a><span class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor"> </span>is to be believed (and there’s no reason to believe it shouldn’t be, given his track record), such a machine nears. Kit Eaton did a nice job breaking down why this machine may very well be the pinnacle of laptops.&nbsp;<a href="https://medium.com/@kiteaton/apples-next-macbook-air-will-be-the-death-of-the-laptop-95ec8a396c2d" class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://medium.com/@kiteaton/apples-next-macbook-air-will-be-the-death-of-the-laptop-95ec8a396c2d">A few points stand out</a>:</p>
<p class="graf--p is-withNotes" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Do you see where Apple’s going with this yet? The new Air is basically a screen, a keyboard and a pointing device controller crammed into as small and elegant a space as possible. And nothing else.</span></p>
<p class="graf--p"><a></a>With this new machine, Apple will have essentially whittled down the MacBook to just the absolute fundamentals of a laptop. Any further reduction and you no longer have a laptop, you have a tablet.</p>
<p class="graf--p is-withNotes"><a></a>You have the iPad.</p>
<p class="graf--p is-withNotes"><a></a>There are camps that believe the MacBook and iPad lines will eventually merge. And there are those who believe this will never happen. I’m not sure we ever get a true merger, but I do believe that we will eventually see Apple settle on one “large screen” computing device (undoubtedly with different “flavors” of screen sizes). If and when Apple releases an iPad with a screen larger than the current 9.7-inch variety, the overlap will be even more clear.</p>
<blockquote class="graf--pullquote pullquote graf--startsWithDoubleQuote"><a></a>“But they run different operating systems.”</blockquote>
<p class="graf--p"><a></a>True. And for this reason alone, I don’t see the MacBook or the iPad “losing” this battle and going away any time soon. We’re talking years. But, as Apple has proven time and time again, they’re willing to forsake nostalgia for the sake of a streamlined product line. I believe as the iOS devices continue to grow in power and reach, the MacBook will eventually fade into the sunset.</p>
<p class="graf--p is-withNotes"><a></a>In its place will be an iPad (with an optional keyboard attachment) that can do everything the current crop of MacBooks can do. And more. And that belief is why I also believe this new MacBook will effectively be the last of its kind. As Eaton notes:</p>
<p class="graf--p is-withNotes" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">No, what I mean is the next Air is the full stop at the end of the laptop story, a story that Apple itself had significant roles in shaping thanks to other, earlier innovations and clever design decisions. If the next Air really is going to be as claimed by 9to5Mac, there is legitimately almost no direction left for the laptop to be taken in. It is the ultimate clamshell laptop, shorn of everything unnecessary and served up with Apple’s traditional design confidence and verve. Any other innovations, including touchscreens or detachable keyboards move beyond what we know of as a “laptop” and step into hybrid tablet/laptop territory.</span></p>
<p class="graf--p"><a></a>The original MacBook Air was an incredible piece of industrial design — a stripping away of everything not absolutely necessary for computing. The optical drive, extraneous ports, etc. Nearly every computer manufacturer took cues (or blatantly copied) the innovations, and now nearly every popular laptop on the market looks like a MacBook Air in some way.</p>
<p class="graf--p"><a></a>With this “MacBook Stealth”, Apple will move the bar forward again. At first, we’ll hear folks bitching about what’s missing. Then we’ll get competition mocking the machine. Yet that bitching and moaning will somehow magically convert into revenue for Apple and throngs of imitation machines in the years to come. The song will remain the same.</p>
<p class="graf--p"><a></a>I suspect this new MacBook will be&nbsp;<a href="http://parislemon.com/post/72923518802/2014-may-be-the-last-year-i-ever-buy-a-computer" target="_blank" class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" rel="nofollow" data-href="http://parislemon.com/post/72923518802/2014-may-be-the-last-year-i-ever-buy-a-computer">the last laptop I end up buying</a>. Again, that doesn’t mean the MacBook is dying anytime soon, but I believe this will be the pinnacle of the product. We’ll get spec bumps for years to come. But it will be the long, slow fade we just witnessed with the iPod.</p>
<p class="graf--p is-withNotes"><a></a>Some believe the iPad will never be able to take the mantle. I think that’s folly. The innovation there, with the chips in particular, is moving so fast that we’re going to have iPads as powerful as laptops very, very soon. Then it’s just a matter of continued software tweaks to get everyone comfortable with the conversion. Kids will grow up never having used a laptop.</p>
<p class="graf--p is-withNotes"><a></a>Apple is about to whittle the MacBook down to perfection. Peak laptop. From there, there’s nowhere to go but to slowly disappear…</p>
<p class="graf--p graf--last is-withNotes"><a></a>…<a href="https://medium.com/five-hundred-words/the-astonishing-disappointing-ipad-1800acf5410d" class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://medium.com/five-hundred-words/the-astonishing-disappointing-ipad-1800acf5410d">into an iPad</a>.</p>
<p class="graf--p graf--last is-withNotes"><em>M.G. Siegler is a General Partner at&nbsp;<a href="http://googleventures.com/" target="_blank">Google Ventures based in London</a>, where he primarily focuses on seed and early-stage investments.&nbsp;<a href="http://about.me/parislemon">Read more about the author of this post here</a>. This post <a href="https://medium.com/five-hundred-words/whittling-down-the-macbook-to-an-ipad-ea86c070f24b">originally appeared on Medium</a>.</em></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/end-of-the-laptop-2015-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/man-fixes-laptop-by-putting-it-in-the-oven-2014-12A Guy Fixed His Overheating MacBook Pro By Putting It In The Oven And Baking It At 170 Degrees (APPL)http://www.businessinsider.com/man-fixes-laptop-by-putting-it-in-the-oven-2014-12
Wed, 31 Dec 2014 10:00:00 -0500Joshua Barrie
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54a417cbdd0895db3f8b4607-1200-924/apple-10.jpg" border="0" alt="Apple"></p><p>A man managed to fix his struggling MacBook Pro by putting it in the oven and baking it.</p>
<p>Sterling Hirsh, a programmer for tech website iFixit, published an<a href="http://ifixit.org/blog/6882/why-i-drilled-holes-in-my-macbook-pro-and-put-it-in-the-oven/"> article on Dec. 29 chronicling his trials and tribulations over the last year with his MacBook Pro</a> and the outlandish method that he used to try to fix it.</p>
<p>According to the post, Hirsh started noticing "heat issues" about a year ago. He explains that his particular model of MacBook Pro is notorious for running too hot. And because of his job, as well as his love for games and electronic music, he uses his laptop a lot.</p>
<p>Hirsh says he tried a few "simple fixes" on the MacBook to tackle the problem. He blew out the inside of it with compressed air, bought a laptop stand, and enabled a program that allows its fans to be run at maximum speed all the time.</p>
<p>But all of his efforts were fruitless: his beloved MacBook eventually died.</p>
<p>Hirsh recalls:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I was working on it when the screen suddenly went black. When I powered it off and on again, the power light lit, but I got no boot chime and the screen alternated between glitchy and black — it all screamed that something on the logic board was busted. Probably the water-boiling temperatures had caused the board to flex, knocking solder loose from its ball grid arrays. The likely fix? Reflow it: Heat it up until the balls of solder melt back into their assigned spots.</p>
<p>So Hirsh took drastic measures. Instead of sending his laptop off for repair (which can take a while), he decided to take it apart, disconnect some of the parts from the logic board, and turn the oven up to 170 degrees C. He applied some <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Applying+Thermal+Paste/744">thermal paste</a> (something that can be purchased in most hardware stores) placed it on a cookie sheet, and baked it for seven "nerveracking" minutes, he says.</p>
<p>And guess what? It worked!</p>
<p>"After it cooled, I reapplied thermal paste, put it all back together, and cheered when it booted. It ran great for the next eight months," Hirsh says.</p>
<blockquote class="pullquote">"The speed holes worked," Hamish declares. "The boot chime rang. The screen glowed. The fans blew."</blockquote>
<p>But that wasn't the end of Hirsh's troubles. In the same post, he says that his laptop died 2 weeks ago. He tried all sorts of weird ways to bring it back to life. He used more thermal paste, a heat gun, and aluminium foil to doctor troublesome areas.</p>
<p>It all ended up with Hirsh putting his MacBook back in the oven, this time for for 7 minutes and 30 seconds. It was then he decided to "drill 60 holes in the bottom case, under the fans," he explains.</p>
<p>It was fixed.</p>
<p>"The speed holes worked," Hamish declares. "The boot chime rang. The screen glowed. The fans blew."</p>
<p>And worked well:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">There’s noticeably increased airflow—when I put a piece of paper on the bottom of the computer, it sticks to the case. Its average temperature is down in the 40s and 50s, lower than it’s been since before March.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">It’s a little early for a final verdict, but the computer has now been running without incident for fifteen days. Unconventional electronics repair tools they may be, but that’s how I saved my MacBook Pro with a drill and an oven.</p>
<p>We applaud Hirsh's efforts, but should note that while tech support people have special ovens to fix chips, it's not a normal practice to put your laptop in a domestic oven. Proceed with caution, better yet, talk to Apple first if you're having issues with your laptop.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/man-fixes-laptop-by-putting-it-in-the-oven-2014-12#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/theres-finally-a-dedicated-hashtag-key-for-macs-2014-11There's Finally A Dedicated Hashtag Key For Macshttp://www.businessinsider.com/theres-finally-a-dedicated-hashtag-key-for-macs-2014-11
Tue, 25 Nov 2014 09:49:00 -0500James Cook
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5474970ddd0895d3488b4634-825-619/hashkey-2.jpg" border="0" alt="HashKey"></p><p>Have you ever found yourself searching for the hashtag key on your MacBook? Apple doesn't make it easy to find the Shift+3 shortcut for the symbol.</p>
<p>There's even a dedicated website, <a href="http://www.hashtagonmac.com/">hashtagonamac.com</a>, to remind you of the shortcut. The problem is worse outside of the US, because on international keyboards the hash symbol isn't simply Shift+3.</p>
<p>But <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1000610379/hashkey-a-dedicated-1-key-keyboard-for-the-hashtag">a new Kickstarter campaign</a> is aiming to change all that. HashKey is a USB peripheral that adds a dedicated hash key to any computer.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The campaign is looking to raise £15,000 to develop a range of the external keys.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5474970ddd0895d3488b4635-700-394/28ac7b0ea3b00de9e8306996ba9e8047_large.jpg" border="0" alt="HashKey"></p>
<p>And in case you're worried about the authenticity of this particular hash key, don't fret. Chris Messina, the inventor of the hashtag,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1000610379/hashkey-a-dedicated-1-key-keyboard-for-the-hashtag">has called it </a>"#awesome."</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/theres-finally-a-dedicated-hashtag-key-for-macs-2014-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/some-macbooks-owners-sue-apple-2014-10Some MacBook Owners Are Suing Apple Over Problems With The Graphics Cards (AAPL)http://www.businessinsider.com/some-macbooks-owners-sue-apple-2014-10
Tue, 28 Oct 2014 19:40:00 -0400Julie Bort
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/545020aeecad04274fb98a7c-638-478/changeorg-macbook-pro-2011-peition.jpeg" border="0" alt="Change.org Macbook Pro 2011 peition"></p><p>Three owners of MacBooks purchased in 2011 have <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/whitfield-bryson--mason-llp-files-class-action-against-apple-inc-for-defective-2011-macbook-pro-laptops-280698962.html">filed a class-action suit against Apple alleging their PCs have defective graphics cards</a> and that the company refuses to pay for repair.</p>
<p>They are asking for the court to make Apple repair or replace the laptops. They also want the judge to award an unnamed amount in punitive damages and to pay for their legal fees.</p>
<p>All year long, there's been grumbling from people who bought 2011 15-inch or 17-inch MacBook Pro models and say they've had problems with the graphics cards.</p>
<p>A <a href="https://www.change.org/p/timothy-d-cook-replace-or-fix-all-early-2011-macbook-pro-with-graphics-failure" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Change.org petition</a> from back in January asking Apple to address the issue hit over 20,000 signatures last week. Talk has ramped up in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2011mbp" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook group</a> of over 5,000 members in the past few weeks, too,<a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/2ds12q/apple_ignores_calls_to_fix_2011%20_macbook_pro/"> and on Reddit</a>, and <a href="https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4766577?start=0&amp;tstart=0">Apple support forums</a>.</p>
<p>The lawyers allege that the problem is due to lead-free soldering materials used with the graphics card. This kind of soldering material tends to crack and the crack grows bigger over time, so problems get worse over time, the lawyers say.</p>
<p>Complaints about the graphics cards in these machines began shortly after the 2011 MacBooks went on sale. Apple responded quickly with a software update that it said it would, <a href="http://9to5mac.com/2011/03/21/mac-os-x-10-6-7-released-with-2011-macbook-pro-fixes-more/">among other things, "improve graphics stability</a>."</p>
<p>But users say that this update didn't fix the problems. The screens would tint blue tint or showing lines or kept freezing, they said.</p>
<p>In many instance, the problems showed up after the machine was out of warranty, when Apple will not cover the part. Some users have said that even if they get the part replaced, often with a price tag of $300-$500, the problems just come back, because, the lawyers allege, that replacement part is equally defective and simply cracks again.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/2ds12q/apple_ignores_calls_to_fix_2011%20_macbook_pro/">Others have complained that Apple</a> wouldn't cover the repair even when they've bought the extended warranty, Apple Care.</p>
<p>We've reached out to Apple for comment and will update when we hear back.</p>
<p><iframe width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/244806579/content?start_page=1&amp;view_mode=scroll&amp;show_recommendations=true" data-auto-height="false" data-aspect-ratio="undefined"></iframe></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/some-macbooks-owners-sue-apple-2014-10#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/new-apple-macbook-air-will-reportedly-be-thinner-2014-9Report: Apple's New MacBook Air Will Be 'Noticeably Thinner' And Will Come In Goldhttp://www.businessinsider.com/new-apple-macbook-air-will-reportedly-be-thinner-2014-9
Mon, 22 Sep 2014 13:24:00 -0400Steven Tweedie
<p><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/54205a8e69bedde60cbe14d0-1200-924/macbook-air-flickr.jpg" border="0" alt="MacBook Air Flickr"></p><p></p>
<p>Apple has been rumored <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-12-inch-macbook-air-release-rumors-2014-6">for some time</a> to be working on a 12-inch version of its popular MacBook Air, and some new details have emerged that may shed some light on what to expect.</p>
<p>According to a new report <a href="http://jackgmarch.com/2014/09/22/exclusive-12-macbook-air-design-details/">from Jack March</a>,&nbsp;the new 12-inch MacBook Air will arrive sometime in mid-2015 and will be available in Apple's signature Space Gray, Silver, and Gold options.</p>
<p>The MacBook Air will also feature a "noticeably thinner design," a feat that will be achieved by reportedly ditching the internal fans in favor of a processor that will perform without them.</p>
<p>Interestingly enough, March claims that the 12-inch MacBook Air will also sacrifice Apple's MagSafe charging port, and will charge in "a different way to what we’ve seen in current Macs." Apple is also reportedly swapping out the standard USB ports for the new, reversible "Type C" USB ports, which would eliminate the guessing game of plugging in a cable. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-6-reversible-usb-charger-leaks-video-2014-8">Previously we saw reports</a> that this type of USB would be used in the iPhone 6, but that turned out not to be the case.&nbsp;</p>
<p><span>Previous MacBook Air models have also featured a larger bezel that borders the screen, and March claims that the 12-inch model will adopt a thinner bezel more akin to the current MacBook Pro lineup. The speaker placement may also move from below the Air's keyboard to above, and March says the new MacBook Air's keyboard "<span>leaves almost no space on the side."</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>You can read March's full report, which cites a "source familiar with Apple’s plans," <a href="http://jackgmarch.com/">over at his blog.</a></span></span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-apps-for-your-new-iphone-6-2014-9?" >The Best Apps For Your New iPhone 6</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/new-apple-macbook-air-will-reportedly-be-thinner-2014-9#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/new-apple-macbook-arriving-by-late-2015-2014-8Apple May Have A Very Thin MacBook On The Wayhttp://www.businessinsider.com/new-apple-macbook-arriving-by-late-2015-2014-8
Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:46:27 -0400Steven Tweedie
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/53fe0679ecad047678b9b5fa-1200-858/5536451808_c71808f6dc_o.jpg" border="0" alt="MacBook Air"></p><p>A new, slimmer MacBook could arrive later this year, according to a recent report first&nbsp;<a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2014/08/27/apple-thinner-macbook-late-2014-early-2015/">spotted by MacRumors.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20140827PD207.html">The Digitimes report</a> cites sources in the Taiwanese-based supply chain that say "p<span>roduction of components has begun in small volumes" for a thinner MacBook.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The new model is expected to launch either later this year or by the end of 2015.</span></p>
<p>Apple has been reportedly working on a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-12-inch-macbook-air-release-rumors-2014-6">12-inch MacBook Air with a high-resolution Retina display</a>, though it is unclear if this thinner model would be part of Apple's MacBook Air or its MacBook Pro lineup.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Any announcement of a new MacBook launching this year would likely take place after Apple's upcoming September 9th event, where the company is widely-expected to unveil the iPhone 6.</span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-12-inch-macbook-air-release-rumors-2014-6#ixzz3Bbuhbdsc" >Apple May Release A New MacBook Air With A Super Sharp 12-Inch Screen This Year</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/new-apple-macbook-arriving-by-late-2015-2014-8#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-speed-up-your-mac-2014-812 Ways To Make Your Mac Run Faster (AAPL)http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-speed-up-your-mac-2014-8
Tue, 05 Aug 2014 14:31:59 -0400Lisa Eadicicco
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/53e11bfb6da8118e5251b1c6-800-/macbook-air-apple-store-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Macbook Air Apple Store" width="800" /></p><p>No matter how much you loved your Mac when you bought it, chances are it doesn't perform the same way it once did.</p>
<p>A few years can take a noticeable toll on any computer, but luckily there are some tips and trips that can help bring it back up to speed.</p>
<p>Here are a few things to look out for that can make your overall Mac experience more smooth and efficient.&nbsp;</p><h3>Check for software updates. </h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/53e110006da811431951b1c8-400-300/check-for-software-updates.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>Often, software updates fix bugs and glitches that could be slowing your computer down. Check for any software updates that may be available for the version of OS X your computer is running on. You can do this by clicking the Apple icon in the upper left hand side and selecting Software Update from the dropdown menu. In most cases, your Mac will probably issue a desktop notification to alert you when an update is available.&nbsp;</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Try restarting your computer.</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/53e1116becad04456ad8b0e8-400-300/try-restarting-your-computer.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>It sounds obvious, but sometimes your laptop or desktop just needs a good restart to get back up to speed. Try restarting your computer before jumping ahead to other options.&nbsp;</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Close unused tabs in your web browser.</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/53e11289eab8ea741fa95134-400-300/close-unused-tabs-in-your-web-browser.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>Open tabs in web browsers do take up memory, even if it is a small amount. This can build up if you're the type of person that opens, say, 15 tabs on a daily basis and never closes them. Try to get into the habit of closing out tabs once you're finished using them.&nbsp;</p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-speed-up-your-mac-2014-8#the-same-goes-for-apps-too-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-macbook-pro-refresh-july-2014-7Everything You Need To Know About Apple’s MacBook Pro Refreshhttp://www.businessinsider.com/apple-macbook-pro-refresh-july-2014-7
Tue, 29 Jul 2014 10:52:22 -0400Dave Smith
<p class="p1"><img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/53d7b2f06bb3f7c056d9348d-1200-800/screen shot 2014-07-29 at 10.41.59 am.png" border="0" alt="macbook-pro-retina" /></p><p>Apple <a href="http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2014/07/29Apple-Updates-MacBook-Pro-with-Retina-Display.html" target="_blank">upgraded its MacBook Pro lineup</a> on Tuesday, updating its 13- and 15-inch Retina laptops with faster specifications and dropping the price of two models by $100.</p>
<p class="p1">Here&rsquo;s how the new models compare:</p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s1"><strong>13-inch Retina MacBook Pro:</strong>&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s1">- $1299: 2.6 GHz dual-core i5 processor, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB flash storage&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s1">- $1499: 2.6 GHz dual-core i5 processor, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB flash storage&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s1">- $1799: 2.8 GHz dual-core i7 processor, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB flash storage</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s1"><strong>15-inch Retina MacBook Pro:</strong>&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s1">- $1999: 2.2 GHz quad-core i7 processor, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB flash storage&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s1">- $2499: 2.5 GHz quad-core i7 processor, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB flash storage&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class="p5"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">All basic 13-inch MacBooks, which used to come with 4 GB of RAM, will now come with 8 GB of RAM standard. Meanwhile, the default standard for the 15-inch models, which was once 8 GB of RAM, will be increased to 16 GB of RAM.</span></p>
<p class="p5"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Apple gave $100 price cuts to its 13-inch non-Retina MacBook Pro, which hasn&rsquo;t been updated with new internals since June 2012, as well as the high-end 15-inch Retina model, which dropped from $2,599 to $2,499.</span></p>
<p class="p5"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Apple has new build-to-order options for both 13- and 15-inch models. The 13-inch model can now be fitted with a 3.0 GHz dual-core i7 processor, while the 15-inch model can include a 2.8 GHz quad-core i7 processor. Both laptops can support up to 1 TB of flash storage.</span></p>
<p class="p5"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Today&rsquo;s laptop refresh was relatively minor, considering Apple is expected to release a new set of MacBooks with Intel&rsquo;s next-generation Broadwell processors. According to </span><a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&amp;sl=zh-CN&amp;tl=en&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fudn.com%2FNEWS%2FSTOCK%2FSTO3%2F8813590.shtml&amp;sandbox=1">Taiwan&rsquo;s Economic Daily News</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> (</span><a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2014/07/18/12-inch-retina-macbook-delayed/">via MacRumors</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">), however, the Broadwell-powered MacBooks may not arrive until later next year.</span></p>
<p class="p5"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Apple is also reportedly working on a 12-inch MacBook, which is said to be a successor to the MacBook Air with an ultra thin build, a Retina display, a quieter (or nonexistent) fan, and a new trackpad design that works without a mechanical button. The device was originally described by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo </span><a href="http://9to5mac.com/2013/10/12/coming-from-apple-in-2014-12-inch-retina-macbook-sharper-ipad-cheaper-imac/">in research note released last October</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">.</span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sharron-laverne-parrish-jr-charged-with-apple-credit-card-scam-2014-7" >A 24-Year-Old Allegedly Used A Simple But Brilliant Scam To Cheat Apple Out Of $300,000</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-macbook-pro-refresh-july-2014-7#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/why-apple-cant-use-teslas-batteries-in-the-iphone-2014-3Why Apple Can't Use Tesla's Batteries In The iPhonehttp://www.businessinsider.com/why-apple-cant-use-teslas-batteries-in-the-iphone-2014-3
Sun, 09 Mar 2014 10:25:54 -0400Kyle Russell
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5314bf9269bedd6703de77f8-480-/elon-musk-87.jpg" border="0" alt="elon musk" width="480" /></p><p>It seems that the recent meetings between Tesla and Apple aren't going to bring the electric automaker's battery technology to the iPhone or iPad &mdash; for now.</p>
<p>While we know that Adrian Perica, Apple's head of mergers and acquisitions, has been meeting up with Tesla, the topics of their discussions have gone unannounced thus far.</p>
<p>Perica's title obviously suggests that Apple is considering buying the automaker, but both <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/zero-chance-apple-tesla-merger-2014-2" target="_blank">analysts </a>and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-we-had-conversations-with-apple-2014-2" target="_blank">Tesla's own Elon Musk</a> have said that's a very unlikely outcome.</p>
<p>The next most likely suggestion for what they could have been talking about? Batteries.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">One of the biggest things Tesla can do to bring down the price of its vehicles is to bring down the price of batteries, the single most expensive component across the range of the company's current and planned cars.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-reveals-gigafactory-plan-2014-2" target="_blank">Tesla just unveiled its plans</a> to build a "Gigafactory," with as much capacity for outputting lithium ion batteries as the rest of the world's current factories <em>combined.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Some people, including former head of Apple France and Mac development <a href="http://www.mondaynote.com/2014/03/02/the-apple-tesla-connection-fun-and-reason-with-numbers/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed:+monday-note+(Monday+Note)" target="_blank">Jean-Louis Gass&eacute;e</a>, have suggested that Apple would make an optimal partner for Tesla on the Gigafactory.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">After all, Tesla's hoping to partner with several companies on the factory, with investments of $2 billion to $3 billion coming from Tesla and each partner. Apple, for its part, has more than enough cash lying around to contribute &mdash; and approximately equal demand for lithium batteries, by <a href="http://www.mondaynote.com/2014/03/02/the-apple-tesla-connection-fun-and-reason-with-numbers/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed:+monday-note+(Monday+Note)" target="_blank">Gass&eacute;e's rough estimates.</a></span></p>
<p>Unfortunately, there's one glaring flaw in the logic of those claiming Apple and Tesla might be collaborating: not all batteries have the same form factor.</p>
<p>Below is a video excerpt from <a href="http://www.californiaadmin.com/agenda.php?confid=CPUC_SS022714&amp;dir=cpuc" target="_blank">a talk Musk gave last week at the California Public Utilities Commission </a>posted to YouTube by 9to5Mac (<a href="http://9to5mac.com/2014/03/02/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-and-iphone-engineer-discuss-battery-technology-video/" target="_blank">you can find their notes on the video here</a>). Musk briefly discusses the batteries used in Apple's products and those made by Tesla with one of Apple's iPhone hardware engineers:</p>
<p><iframe width="800" height="600" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/sN5HT9mj_4M?rel=0"></iframe></p>
<p>The "18650" number Musk refers to is the size of batteries used in in Tesla's vehicles. The 18650 battery is approximately 4mm wider and 15mm longer than the AA batteries you put in your TV remote.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Tesla currently makes its vehicular battery packs out of thousands of tightly packed 18650 batteries. As Musk explains in the video, the company's engineers have achieved both high energy density and low cost ("the two things that matter most") in the 18650 and plan to stick with the form factor for the foreseeable future.</p>
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5314d0ff6da811be55aa9908-450-424/panasonic%20battery.jpg" border="0" alt="panasonic battery" width="480" />Although it's possible that Tesla's factory could output batteries of multiple sizes, we imagine that Tesla is looking to partner with companies that can use the batteries it already makes.</p>
<p>If that's the case, the 18650's dimensions pretty much rule it out as an option for the majority of Apple's product lineup. At 18mm in diameter, it's simply too thick to fit in the iPhone, iPad or MacBook Air.</p>
<p>Take the iPhone 5S, for instance. At 7.6mm in depth, it's less than half as thick as one of Tesla's batteries.</p>
<p>The iPad Air? Same deal &mdash; it's only 7.5mm thick. Even the MacBook Air is only 17mm at its thickest.</p>
<p>Tesla's batteries are only even close to being an option for the non-Retina MacBook Pro. Considering Apple's seemingly never-ending drive to reduce the weight and thickness of its products over time, chances are that won't even be an option this time next year. Apple investing $2 billion to $3 billion for&nbsp;<em>that&nbsp;</em>&nbsp;just doesn't make much sense.</p>
<h3><br /><strong>NOW WATCH: What Really Happens At A Tesla Supercharger Station</strong></h3>
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<p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/report-apple-hiring-hundreds-of-engineers-2014-3" >Report: Apple hiring hundreds of engineers in China to speed up iPhone development</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-apple-cant-use-teslas-batteries-in-the-iphone-2014-3#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-4k-thunderbolt-display-2014-3The Latest Evidence That Apple Will Release A 4K Display This Yearhttp://www.businessinsider.com/apple-4k-thunderbolt-display-2014-3
Fri, 07 Mar 2014 16:29:00 -0500Kyle Russell
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/531a29d069bedd496090cbe2-480-/4k-tvs-sinofsky-2.jpg" border="0" alt="4K TVs sinofsky" width="480" /></p><p>Ever since Apple announced the redesigned Mac Pro at its Worldwide Developer Conference last summer, the biggest question coming from Apple's high-end users has been: "Where's the 4K display to go with it?"</p>
<p>After all, the ability to work with video and photographs shot at insanely high resolutions is one of the key selling points for the new Mac Pro.</p>
<p>But for some reason, Apple put the Mac Pro on the market without selling an Apple-branded 4K display to go with it.</p>
<p>That isn't to say that Apple didn't offer <em>any</em>&nbsp;display options for its high-end users: on its site, you can still buy one of the company's <a href="http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC914LL/B/apple-thunderbolt-display-27-inch" target="_blank">$999 Thunderbolt displays with a resolution somewhat higher than 1080p</a>, or you can step it up to a 4K monitor with <a href="http://store.apple.com/us/product/HD971LL/A/sharp-32-pn-k321-4k-ultra-hd-led-monitor" target="_blank">this 32-inch display from Sharp for the low, low price of $3,595.</a></p>
<p><img class="float_left" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/531a33a8ecad0421510acc95-464-348/sharp-4k-display-apple-site.png" border="0" alt="sharp 4k display apple site" width="480" /></p>
<p>Apple's highest-end customers were hoping for an actual Apple display with 4K resolution. Until recently, though, Mac OS X's support for 4K displays simply wasn't ready for primetime.</p>
<p>One of Apple's biggest features when debuting high-resolution displays for its Macs was the use of "pixel-doubling." Basically, Apple did the same thing as when it introduced the iPhone 4 with its Retina Display: doubled the resolution of the screen but kept it the same size.</p>
<p>That makes everything on the screen look the same size but sharper instead of simply making everything smaller, which is normally what happens when you increase your screen's resolution.</p>
<p>While the MacBook Pros with Retina have all been able to do this on their built-in screens since their debut, Apple's computers didn't let you do the same with external 4K monitors. So when you plugged in one of those $3,595 screens into your Mac Pro, you got an interface so small that some users complained that it would induce eye strain. It's not a shock that Apple didn't release its own $999+ 4K screen with that bad of a drawback for some of its most influential customers.</p>
<p>According to <a href="http://9to5mac.com/2014/03/06/apple-building-support-for-driving-4k-displays-at-retina-resolution-60hz-output-from-2013-macbook-pros/" target="_blank">9to5Mac's Mark Gurman</a>, the latest beta version of OS X 10.9 introduces pixel-doubling for 4K monitors. With external monitors offering the same "Retina" experience as Apple's own laptops, it wouldn't be surprising to see Apple finally release its own 4K Thunderbolt display sooner rather than later &mdash; and considering the fact that <a href="http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&amp;l=en&amp;s=dhs&amp;cs=19&amp;sku=210-ACHO" target="_blank">Dell now offers a $699 4K display</a>, Apple might even be able to hit that same $999 price point as its current displays.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-iphone-6-display-is-going-to-look-amazing-2014-2" >The iPhone 6 display is going to look amazing</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-4k-thunderbolt-display-2014-3#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/pixelworks-reveals-apple-is-a-customer-2014-3Simply Mentioning Apple In An SEC Filing Made This Company's Stock Shoot Up 90%http://www.businessinsider.com/pixelworks-reveals-apple-is-a-customer-2014-3
Fri, 07 Mar 2014 14:49:41 -0500Kyle Russell
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/529231a16bb3f7941f219fc1-480-/apple-ipad-mini-with-retina-display.jpg" border="0" alt="apple ipad mini with retina display" width="480" /></p><p>Apple, the world's largest tech company by market cap, can make or break another company's stock by simply showing up in an SEC filing.</p>
<p>That's what happened yesterday when display processing technology company <a href="http://www.pixelworks.com/index.php" target="_blank">Pixelworks</a> disclosed in an SEC filing that more than 10% of its revenue last year came from the tech giant.</p>
<p>The company's stock price shot up almost 90% on the news, bringing it to its highest level since October 2006, <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303824204579423693006340838?mg=reno64-wsj&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702303824204579423693006340838.html" target="_blank">according to The Wall Street Journal's Tess Stynes.</a></p>
<p>What's incredible is that the mere mention of Apple brought the stock up despite the relatively small extent to which the companies are involved &mdash; 10% of $48.1 million in annual revenue isn't exactly huge when you're talking about Apple &mdash; and the fact that Pixelworks' revenue declined 19% year-over-year in 2013.</p>
<p>What's likely gotten everyone on Wall Street worked up is the possibility that Pixelworks' technology will power an actual ultra-high-definition television from Apple in the coming months. At least, that's the impression we got from the <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/article/2071123-pixelworks-discloses-relationship-with-apple" target="_blank">Seeking Alpha post by PTT Research's Mark Gomes yesterday</a>:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span>However, AAPL has virtually no background in television technology. This contrasts greatly against Samsung, which has&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.dawn.com/news/1077523/samsung-to-top-tv-market-for-8th-year" rel="nofollow">dominated the TV market</a><span>&nbsp;for years. Indeed, when comparing the two vendors, this is where Samsung holds the most decided advantage. Thus, I continue to believe that Apple is looking to obtain the necessary expertise to close the gap. In my opinion, PXLW still represents Apple's best hope.</span></p>
<p>Unfortunately, there's no real evidence to back up the idea that Apple is making a television set with the technology it's licensing from Pixelworks. Based on the company's own explanations of what its tech does, it seems that it's likely being used to improve the quality of the Retina Displays already used in Apple's iOS and Mac lineups.</p>
<p>For instance, one of the biggest potential issues with Apple's MacBook Pro with Retina (and the iPad Air) is that content made for screens with lower resolutions can look awful on large Retina Displays because pixelation becomes even more noticeable. <a href="http://www.pixelworks.com/technology.php" target="_blank">One of Pixelworks' core technologies</a> is &nbsp;"advanced scaling," which aims to make content look as nice as possible on higher-resolution displays.</p>
<p>Similarly, <a href="http://www.pixelworks.com/technology.php" target="_blank">Pixelworks claims</a> that its mobile video processing technology provide "improvements in color, contrast, sharpness and de-blur that are only found in high quality televisions today. Furthermore, this technology can save system power and extend battery life."&nbsp;</p>
<p>Technology that can improve color, contrast and battery life at the same time? <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-iphone-6-display-is-going-to-look-amazing-2014-2" target="_blank">That definitely sounds like something that Apple would use in the iPhone, not a TV.</a></p>
<p>That isn't to say that Apple might not be licensing Pixelworks technology for some crazy new product. Back in December, <a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/12/17/apple-patents-desk-free-computer-with-intelligent-laser-powered-projector-and-wireless-charging" target="_blank">AppleInsider's Mikey Campbell dug up a patent</a> Apple filed for a wireless computer built around using a projector instead of a screen for its display. If that project ever came to fruition (many Apple patents don't), it wouldn't be surprising to see Apple integrate <a href="http://vuemagic.pixelworks.com/vuemagic.php" target="_blank">Pixelworks' VueMagic technology</a>, which makes it easier to use tablets and smartphones with projectors for a variety of tasks.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ferraris-cheap-carplay-implementation-2014-3" >Ferrari and Apple designed a dashboard and its screen is really outdated</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/pixelworks-reveals-apple-is-a-customer-2014-3#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/why-apple-cant-use-teslas-batteries-in-the-iphone-2014-3Why Apple Can't Use Tesla's Batteries In The iPhonehttp://www.businessinsider.com/why-apple-cant-use-teslas-batteries-in-the-iphone-2014-3
Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:36:00 -0500Kyle Russell
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5314bf9269bedd6703de77f8-480-/elon-musk-87.jpg" border="0" alt="elon musk" width="480" /></p><p>It seems that the recent meetings between Tesla and Apple aren't going to bring the electric automaker's battery technology to the iPhone or iPad &mdash; for now.</p>
<p>While we know that Adrian Perica, Apple's head of mergers and acquisitions, has been meeting up with Tesla, the topics of their discussions have gone unannounced thus far.</p>
<p>Perica's title obviously suggests that Apple is considering buying the automaker, but both <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/zero-chance-apple-tesla-merger-2014-2" target="_blank">analysts </a>and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-we-had-conversations-with-apple-2014-2" target="_blank">Tesla's own Elon Musk</a> have said that's a very unlikely outcome.</p>
<p>The next most likely suggestion for what they could have been talking about? Batteries.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">One of the biggest things Tesla can do to bring down the price of its vehicles is to bring down the price of batteries, the single most expensive component across the range of the company's current and planned cars.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-reveals-gigafactory-plan-2014-2" target="_blank">Tesla just unveiled its plans</a> to build a "Gigafactory," with as much capacity for outputting lithium ion batteries as the rest of the world's current factories <em>combined.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Some people, including former head of Apple France and Mac development <a href="http://www.mondaynote.com/2014/03/02/the-apple-tesla-connection-fun-and-reason-with-numbers/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed:+monday-note+(Monday+Note)" target="_blank">Jean-Louis Gass&eacute;e</a>, have suggested that Apple would make an optimal partner for Tesla on the Gigafactory.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">After all, Tesla's hoping to partner with several companies on the factory, with investments of $2 billion to $3 billion coming from Tesla and each partner. Apple, for its part, has more than enough cash lying around to contribute &mdash; and approximately equal demand for lithium batteries, by <a href="http://www.mondaynote.com/2014/03/02/the-apple-tesla-connection-fun-and-reason-with-numbers/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed:+monday-note+(Monday+Note)" target="_blank">Gass&eacute;e's rough estimates.</a></span></p>
<p>Unfortunately, there's one glaring flaw in the logic of those claiming Apple and Tesla might be collaborating: not all batteries have the same form factor.</p>
<p>Below is a video excerpt from <a href="http://www.californiaadmin.com/agenda.php?confid=CPUC_SS022714&amp;dir=cpuc" target="_blank">a talk Musk gave last week at the California Public Utilities Commission </a>posted to YouTube by 9to5Mac (<a href="http://9to5mac.com/2014/03/02/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-and-iphone-engineer-discuss-battery-technology-video/" target="_blank">you can find their notes on the video here</a>). Musk briefly discusses the batteries used in Apple's products and those made by Tesla with one of Apple's iPhone hardware engineers:</p>
<p><iframe width="800" height="600" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/sN5HT9mj_4M?rel=0"></iframe></p>
<p>The "18650" number Musk refers to is the size of batteries used in in Tesla's vehicles. The 18650 battery is approximately 4mm wider and 15mm longer than the AA batteries you put in your TV remote.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Tesla currently makes its vehicular battery packs out of thousands of tightly packed 18650 batteries. As Musk explains in the video, the company's engineers have achieved both high energy density and low cost ("the two things that matter most") in the 18650 and plan to stick with the form factor for the foreseeable future.</p>
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5314d0ff6da811be55aa9908-450-424/panasonic%20battery.jpg" border="0" alt="panasonic battery" width="480" />Although it's possible that Tesla's factory could output batteries of multiple sizes, we imagine that Tesla is looking to partner with companies that can use the batteries it already makes.</p>
<p>If that's the case, the 18650's dimensions pretty much rule it out as an option for the majority of Apple's product lineup. At 18mm in diameter, it's simply too thick to fit in the iPhone, iPad or MacBook Air.</p>
<p>Take the iPhone 5S, for instance. At 7.6mm in depth, it's less than half as thick as one of Tesla's batteries.</p>
<p>The iPad Air? Same deal &mdash; it's only 7.5mm thick. Even the MacBook Air is only 17mm at its thickest.</p>
<p>Tesla's batteries are only even close to being an option for the non-Retina MacBook Pro. Considering Apple's seemingly never-ending drive to reduce the weight and thickness of its products over time, chances are that won't even be an option this time next year. Apple investing $2 billion to $3 billion for&nbsp;<em>that&nbsp;</em>&nbsp;just doesn't make much sense.</p>
<h3><br /><strong>NOW WATCH: What Really Happens At A Tesla Supercharger Station</strong></h3>
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<p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/report-apple-hiring-hundreds-of-engineers-2014-3" >Report: Apple hiring hundreds of engineers in China to speed up iPhone development</a></strong></p>
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